Ask the Coach with Head Coach John Franco: Week 5

Every week of the football season, Eagle Eye writer and junior football player Matt Clifton will interview Coach Franco.

By Matt Clifton, Staff Writer|September 19, 2019

Tyrone won it’s second game in a row Friday night in comeback style, defeating the Mounties 22-16.

Junior quarterback Brandon Lucas scored three touchdowns and was a dual treat with nearly 200 yards passing and nearly one hundred yards rushing on the night.

Coach Franco was very pleased with his team’s tenacity after falling behind in the first half.

Tyrone junior Damon Gripp had eight receptions for 100 yards and Brandon Homan had two receptions for 35 yards including a 30 yard reception that set up a one yard rushing touchdown for Lucas.

The Eagle Eye caught up with Coach Franco after the win to talk about the win and next week’s matchup with Bellefonte.

Eagle Eye: PO came out swinging in the first half and your team still managed to come back… what do you think changed for them?

Coach Franco: “We seem to play better as the game goes on and I think that’s due to our our superior conditioning.”

EE: The team is injured on all fronts, how do you plan to deal with these losses?

CF: “I can’t remember the last time I coached a team that had so many key injuries. But that’s why you have 40 guys on the team. Next man up!”

EE: Anything that stood out to you again this week after another close game?

CF: “It is amazing that all four of our games have literally gone down to the last play. I think that is a very good sign that we never quit and we play all out on every play of the game.”

EE: Is there anything to really focus on against a healthy Bellefonte team?

CF: “Bellefonte may be the best or at least one of the two or three best on our schedule. To beat them you must stop their powerful running game and stop their explosive plays by running to the ball and not giving up the deep pass. Our focus this week is on being more physical and attacking on both offense and defense. They will be the most physical team we play all year. We have to out hit them to beat them.”

EE: Any different game plan after losing even more key players to injuries?

CF: “Because of all of our injuries our game plan has had to change each week for the past three weeks. We will always highlight the two or three best players on our team and we will try to shut down the two or three best players on the opponents team.”

EE: Who has the best wings around?

CF: “Pal-Minos in Altoona.”